Procuring Healthy Foods

Healthy Food Outlets Map

This Healthy Food Outlets map is intended for food shelves to use to identity nearby food sources and establish connections with them. If you are interested in reaching out to a nearby food source, please consider connecting with MHD staff or with the nearby food shelves to make a “coordinated ask” from these donors. To view details about each point on the map including level of interest in the food shelf network, existing relationships, days and hours of business, and food resources or needs, hold your cursor over the object of interest and right click. Do note that more information is available for some of the locations than others. Please email SHIP@minneapolismn.gov if you find any incorrect information or have questions about this resource.

Food Rescue

Second Harvest Heartland's Food Rescue Program diverts millions of pounds of food that would otherwise be thrown away to food shelves. Member agencies can contact the food bank to establish a relationship with a retail outlet and receive rescued food, including fresh produce and whole grain items.

Retail Outreach Strategy

Food shelves that are not members of Second Harvest Heartland are encouraged to conduct retail outreach using this Retail Outreach Strategy guide for soliciting healthy donations.

Food Safety Guidelines

Offering healthy items like whole grains and fresh produce is a safe, legal practice that reduces clients' risk of obesity and chronic disease. Fresh produce and whole grains are non-potentially hazardous foods that do not always require refrigeration, but should be sourced and transported responsibly. For more information about food safety, review these MDH and MDA guidelines in addition to consulting your local regulatory inspector.

Grow a Giving Garden

A Giving Garden is an innovative way for a business or organization to help its employees and community become healthier. Beneficiaries of the seasonal, fresh produce would be local food shelves that participate in the Minneapolis Healthy Food Shelf Network. Learn more about Giving Gardens here. Share the idea of Giving Gardens with others! Access a printable handout!

Grow a Giving Garden Resource Guide

Healthy items are not regularly donated to food shelves and are often expensive for food shelves to purchase on their own. However, food shelves and their customers love receiving fresh, high quality produce! This Grow a Giving Garden Resource Guide is intended to guide businesses or organizations through the process of starting and maintaining a worksite Giving Garden. A Giving Garden offers a bounty of benefits to employees and the business/organization itself. In addition, by donating produce from a Giving Garden to a local food shelf, businesses or organizations can help provide nutritious foods for individuals and families in need, and contribute to the overall well-being of their community.